October 13th 2024.
England's Nations League campaign got back on track after their surprising loss to Greece, with a 2-0 victory over Finland. Following their experimental team selection on Wednesday, Lee Carsley returned to a more traditional lineup in hopes of securing a much-needed win in Helsinki. The only change was Trent Alexander-Arnold starting in an unfamiliar left-back role, with Cole Palmer filling in for the injured Bukayo Saka on the right wing.
The game started off quietly, but England quickly picked up the pace in the 18th minute when Jack Grealish and Angel Gomes combined for a beautiful goal. The match seemed to be heading towards a routine victory for England, until Alexander-Arnold stunned everyone with a spectacular free-kick to double their lead in the 74th minute. Just six minutes later, Declan Rice added a third goal for England, but they were denied a clean sheet as Finland scored a late header against Dean Henderson.
Henderson had a relatively uneventful night in goal, making his second appearance for England. He handled himself well, but didn't face much of a challenge due to Finland's inaccurate finishing. He couldn't do much to stop their late goal, but overall had a solid performance. Kyle Walker also had a quiet night, as Finland's attack didn't trouble him much. However, he didn't contribute much in terms of his usual attacking runs.
John Stones and Marc Guehi both had average performances, with Stones not quite at his best and Guehi showing some defensive lapses. But it was Alexander-Arnold who stole the show with his impressive free-kick goal. While he may have struggled in the left-back role, he proved once again that he is a valuable asset when it comes to set pieces.
Another player who caught the eye was Angel Gomes, who had an impressive display for his second senior appearance for England. His assist for Grealish's goal was a moment of brilliance in an otherwise lackluster game. Declan Rice had a steady game, but didn't contribute much in terms of attacking threat until his late goal before being substituted.
Replacing the injured Bukayo Saka on the right wing, Cole Palmer had a tough task on his hands. He didn't quite live up to expectations, making this perhaps his least effective performance for England so far. Jude Bellingham also had a subdued game, struggling to connect with his teammates and make an impact.
But it was Grealish who shone once again, fully back in the international fold and scoring England's opener. His performance helped steady any nerves that may have been developing among the team. On the other hand, captain Harry Kane had a quiet night, forced to drop deep in the first half to get involved in the game. Overall, it was a much-needed win for England and a strong bounce back after their disappointing loss.
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